Deadly Relations - Mapleton Mystery, #11

Nothing Ever Happens In Mapleton . Until It DoesA small town police procedural-cozy mystery blend. In the eleventh offering in Terry Odell's Mapleton Mystery series, Deadly Relations brings back familiar faces and introduces new ones. (Not to mention a couple of dogs and cats!) Gordon Hepler, Mapleton, Colorado's Police Chief, is called away from a quiet Sunday with his wife to an emergency situation at the home he's planning to sell.
A man has chained himself to the front porch, threatening to set off an explosive. When Gordon discovers he knows the arsonist-his brother-in-law from his previous failed marriage-he's sent down an unexpected road to find his ex-wife, who, along with his brother-in-law, has disappeared. Does Gordon need to worry that his brother-in-law will put in another appearance to finish what he's started? Meanwhile, he has to find a balance between his Chief Stuff and his Cop Stuff.
Is Mapleton facing a homeless problem? Then there's the town council, the budget, the upcoming election, plus finding a way to keep his officers up to speed with all the changes in crime. Adding the thorn-in-his-side reporter who seems to want to undermine everything Gordon's trying to do for his town, creates more headaches. Although it's part of the series, this-and all the Mapleton books-can be read as small-town police procedural stand alones.